Telescoping conveyance loader



Jan. 21, 1969 w. M. RIGGLES, JR

TELESCOPING CONVEYANCE LOADER Filed July 14, 1966 Sheet FIGZ Sheet 2 of 5 j INVENTOR WILLIAM M. RIGGLESJR AT TORNEYS Jan. 21, 1969 w. M. RIGGLES, JR

TELESCOPING CONVEYANCE LOADER Filed July 14, 1966 Jan. 21, 1969 WMmGGLEs, R 3,422,471

TELESCOPING CONVEYANCE LOADER I Filed July 14, 1966 Sheet ,2 Of 5 FIG] 4 Q .3 INVENTO R E m WILLIAM M. RIGGLESI ATT RNEYS" Jan. 21, 1969 w. M; RlGGLES. JR $422 71 TELESCOP ING CONVEYANCE LOADER Sheet Filed July 14, 1966 WILLIAM u. RIGGLESJR.

was M A TTORN.EY..S

w. M. RIG GLES, JR $422,477

TELESCOPING CONVEYANCE LOADER Jan. 21, 1969 Sheet 5 of5 Filed July 14, 1966 INVENTOR WILLIAM M. RIGGLEQJ'R.

BY W

ATTORNEYS NEE United States Patent 3,422,477 TELESCOPING CONVEYANCE LOADER William M. Riggles, Jr., Hialeah, Fla., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Wollard Aircraft Equipment, Inc.,

Miami, Fla., a corporation of Washington Filed July 14, 1966, Ser. No. 565,188

U.S. Cl. 14-71 Int. Cl. B65g 69/28 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention In the past, tunnel-type telescoping loaders or gangways have been designed with interior structural members carried by the outer tunnel section coacting with exterior structural members carried by the telescoped tunnel section to thereby support the latter within the former. This has required complicated and expensive structural design. It has also required that the telescoped tunnel section be considerably greater in length than the maximum length of extension of the same in order that there be sufficient length of structural members on the telescoped tunnel section coacting with the outside tunnel section to carry the telescoped tunnel section at the greatest degree of extension. This last in turn required that the outside tunnel section be long enough to receive telescopically both the extensible and retractable portion of the telescoped tunnel section plus the portion of the telescoped tunnel structure necessary for supporting the fully extended telescoped tunnel section.

One use of conveyance loaders or gangways is in connection with emplaning and deplaning aircraft passengers. With many airport terminal buildings it is possible and desirable to bring the nose of an aircraft into close proximity to a portion of the building for loading purposes and thus telescoping loaders suitable for these situations do not need to have much telescoping movement. In such cases the present invention by eliminating the necessity for elogated telescoped tunnel sections makes possible an economical form of loader supporting construction and the shortest possible overall tunnel length.

Description of the invention Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conveyance loader embodying the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention,

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the pre ent invention,

FIGURE 7 is a view in vertical section, with parts omitted and broken away for clarity, taken on the line 77 ,of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 8 is';a view in horizontal section, with parts omitted and broken away for clarity, taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 7,

3,422,477 Patented Jan. 21, 1969 "ice" FIGURE 9 is a vertical section with parts omitted for clarity taken on the line 99 of FIGURE 8,

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 1111 of FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 13 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 are views of two similar embodiments of a type of loader adapted for use in two differing airport terminal environments where the nose of an aircraft can be brought up in close proximity to the conveyance end of the loader but where aircraft with doorways which vary considerably in height must be serviced. In each case the airport terminal building is shown at 20 and a loader terminal vestibule at 21. An elongated tunnel section indicated generally at 22 is supported at one end on a support 23 projecting from the building through the medium of a rolling pivot 24, the latter being of the type disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 469,546, now Patent No, 3,378,868. The outer end of tunnel section 22 in each embodiment is mounted on a pedestal 25 supported on apron 26. Pedestal 25 incorporates an hydraulic piston 27 for raising and lowering the outer end of tunnel 22.

Tele copingly received within elongated tunnel section 22 is a short tunnel section indicated generally at 28, which at its outer end supports a conveyance vestibule 30 mounted on tunnel section 28 for limited horizontal swinging movement. Conveyance vestibule 30 includes conventional aircraft engaging structure which can establish and maintain a weathertight connection with the doorway of the aircraft.

On the underside of tunnel section 22 at the aircraft end, there are rigidly mounted a pair of tubular structural members 32. At the conveyance end of tunnel section 28, there is rigidly mounted a structural framework, 34 which extends around the open end of tunnel section 28 and may support conveyance vestibule 30. Rigidly carried by framework 34 are a pair of structural members 36 having free ends which extend into telescopic relationship with interiors of tubular structural members 32 carried by tunnel 22. Structural members 36 are so dimensioned and mounted on framework 34 and tubular members 32 are so dimensioned and mounted on tunnel section 22 that the entire weight of tunnel section 28 can be carried by the telescopic relationship of structural members 36 and tubular structural members 32. Thus tunnel section 28 need only be long enough to maintain a weather-tight connection with tunnel section 22 when tunnel section 28 is extended to its farthest point toward an aircraft.

It will be noted that the tubular frame members 32, 32 can each be considered as being functionally made up of a channel component with the open sides of these channel components facing either toward or away from the correspondingly located channel component of the other tubular member and in such case the side of the tubular member which closes the channel component is not essential for proper functioning of each member 32 in supporting and guiding the associated structural members 36.

The embodiments illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are aircraft loaders which have two short telescoping tunnel sections that remain horizontally disposed regardless of their height above the ground and a vertically swinga-ble, elongated connecting tunnel extending from the telescoping tunnel sections to the terminal building.

Insofar as the embodiment of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 have components corresponding to those of the embodiments of FIGURES l, 2 and 3, like reference numerals have been used in FIGURES 4, and 6 and the foregoing description of the embodiments of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 is equally applicable to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. The only dissimilar structure in the embodiments of FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 relates to the elongated tunnel section indicated at and its associated structure which connects the terminal side of tunnel section 22 and the terminal building 20. Tunnel section 40 connects with the building through a terminal vestibule 39. The terminal end of tunnel section 40 can be supported on a pedestal 41 as in FIGURE 4 or, as in FIGURE 6, in the same manner as tunnel section 22 is supported in the embodiments of FIGURES l, 2 and 3. The pedestal 41 pivotally supports the terminal end of tunnel section 40 through the medium of rolling pivot 42 and the conveyance end of tunnel 40 is pivotally supported on tunnel section 22 by a fixed pivot 43. The details of construction of tunnel section 40 and its end connections form no part of the present invention and therefore no further description will be given.

At this point reference is made to copending patent application Ser. No. 565,175 in which is disclosed a still further form of loader utilizing the present invention.

It will be noted that in all embodiments the tubular structural members 32, 32 and the associated, telescopically received structural members 36, 36 can be considered as arranged one on either side of, in spaced relation to and parallel to a vertical reference plane disposed centrally of tunnel section 22 and parallel to the direction of telescoping movement of tunnel sections 22 and 28.

For a more detailed disclosure of a specific structure embodying the present invention reference is now made to FIGURES 7 to 13 which show in greater detail the important features of the telescoping tunnel sections 22 and 28 appearing in all of the embodiments but particularly in FIGURE 4.

Tunnel section 22 is made up of vertical frame members and horizontal frame members 51 which are connected by lower longitudinal frame members 52 and upper longitudinal frame members 53. Suitable collateral material 54 and flooring 49 are carried by this framework. Rigidly connected to the lower portion of the tunnel 22 framework are spaced tubular members 55 which are large in cross-section and which are formed of heavy gage metal. Cross bracing channels 56 interconnect tubular members 55.

Tunnel section 28 includes horizontal frame members 60, vertical frame members 61, longitudinally extending lower frame members 62 and upper longitudinally extending frame members 63. This framework supports suitable collateral material 64 and flooring 65. Flooring 65 slopes downwardly at the terminal end of tunnel 28 so as to be as close as possible to flooring 49 of tunnel 22. A slidable ramp (not shown) carried by tunnel section 28 bridges the difference in height of the two floors.

The conveyance end of tunnel section 28 carries a heavy structural framework formed of horizontal frame members 66 and vertical frame members 67. Integral with this framework are formed two projecting structural members 70 having free ends received telescopingly within tubular members 55 of tunnel section 22. The upper portion of this framework and the lower portion of this framework pivotally support on pivots 71 the framework 72 of conveyance vestibule 30. A horizontal extension 73 supports rollers (not shown) for a track for supporting the outer portion of conveyance vestibule 30 in its limited swinging movement.

Antifriction means are provided between tubular structural members 55 and structural members 70 for facilitating the sliding movement between these parts. Referring to FIGURE 10 it will be seen that the inner bearing member indicated generally at 75 is carried on the end of structural member 70. The bearing is made up of a sheet of bearing metal 76 backed up by a metal plate 77 held in place on member 70 by bolts and nuts 78. Side thrust bearings 79 are carried on the side walls of structural member 70 at the end. Referring to FIGURE 12 it will be seen that the other bearing indicated generally at 81 which is at the conveyance end of tunnel section 22, is carried by tubular structural member 55. This bearing is made up of a sheet of bearing metal 82 backed up by a metal plate 83 and rigidly held in place in tubular member 55 by stud bolts 84. Side thrust bearings 85 are carried by the side walls of the ends of structural members 55 in the vicinity of main bearing 81. As shown, structural members 70 may be reinforced at 86 to give better Wearing qualities where structural member 70 rides on bearing 81. A stop 87 (see FIGURE 11) may be carried by the lower surface of structural member 70.

The strength and dimensioning of the parts are designed to hold tunnel section 28 spaced from the interior of tunnel section 22 but limit bumpers 90 are provided for accommodation of heavy transient loads acting on tunnel section 28.

A hydraulic cylinder and piston 91 are pivotally connected at 92 to end channel member 56 and at 93 to framework 67 for moving tunnel section 28 relative to tunnel section 22.

I claim:

1. In a conveyance loader the combination comprising (a) a first tunnel section having a building end and a conveyance end,

(b) means forming an opening in the conveyance end of the first tunnel section,

(c) means for raising and lowering at least the conveyance end of the first tunnel section,

((1) a second tunnel section having a building end and a conveyance end with the building end of the second tunnel section telescopingly received within the opening in the conveyance end of the first tunnel section for in and out movement of the building end of the second tunnel section Within the conveyance end of the first tunnel section,

(e) a structural framework rigidly united to the conveyance end of the second tunnel section,

(f) a pair of hollow frame members carried by the first tunnel section on each side of and in spaced parallel relation to a vertical reference plane disposed centrally of the first tunnel section and parallel to the direction of telescoping movement of the second tunnel section in the first tunnel section, each hollow frame member having upper and lower internal walls facing each other and at least one side internal wall facing in opposite direction to a correspondingly located side internal wall of the other hollow frame member, at least the upper internal wall of each hollow frame member extending from a point contiguous to the conveyance end of the first tunnel section toward the building end of the first tunnel section a distance appreciably greater than the distance between the structural framework on the conveyance end of the second tunnel section and the building end of the second tunnel section, and

(g) a pair of elongated frame members, each elongated frame member being rigidly united at one end to the structural framework of the second tunnel section on each side of and in spaced parallel relation to the reference plane and extending in the direction of the building end of the second tunnel section with the external surfaces of each elongated frame member being in spaced and unattached relation to the second tunnel section along the length of the elongated frame member measured from a point contiguous to the end of the elongated frame member which is rigidly united to the structural framework to thereby result in a free standing portion of the elongated frame member relative to the second tunnel section, the length of the free standing portion of each of the elongated frame members being appreciably greater than the distance between the structural framework and the building end of the second tunnel section,

(h) each elongated frame member having the free end of the free standing portion received within one of the hollow frame members with elements of the free standing portion in friction reducing mating relationship with said internal walls of the hollow frame members to accommodate movement of the elongated frame members within the hollow frame members during telescoping movement of the tunnel sections, the strength of the elongated frame members and the structural framework being such and the spacing between the elongated frame members and the second tunnel section being such that the second tunnel section is supported by the mating portion of the hollow frame members and associated elongated frame members when the second tunnel section is in extended position.

2. In a conveyance loader the combination claimed in claim 1 in which the strength of the elongated frame members and the structural framework is such and the spacing between the elongated frame members and the second tunnel section is such that the weight of the second tunnel section is supported solely by the mating portions of the hollow frame members and associated elongated frame members during telescoping movement of the tunnel sections.

3. In a conveyance loader the combination comprising (a) a first tunnel section having a building end and a conveyance end,

(b) means forming an opening in the conveyance end of the first tunnel section,

(c) means for raising and lowering at least the conveyance end of the first tunnel section,

((1) a second tunnel section having a building end and a conveyance end,

(e) means forming an opening in the building end of the second tunnel section,

(f) the conveyance end of the first tunnel section and the building end of the second tunnel section being arranged in telescoping relation one with the other for relative telescoping movement with respective openings forming a continuous passageway,

(g) a structural framework rigidly united to the conveyance end of one tunnel section,

(h) a pair of hollow frame members carried by the telescoping end of the other tunnel section on each side of and in spaced parallel relation to a vertical reference plane disposed centrally of the other tunnel section and, parallel to the direction of telescoping movement of the tunnel section, each hollow frame member having upper and lower internal walls facing each other and at least one side internal wall facing in opposite direction to an oppositely located side internal wall of the other hollow frat-me member, at least the upper internal wall of each hollow frame member extending from a point contiguous to the telescoping end of the other tunnel section in a direction away from the telescoping end of the other tunnel section a distance appreciably greater than the distance between the structural framework on the telescoping end of the one tunnel section and the end remote from the telescoping end of the one tunnel section, and

(i) a pair of elongated frame members, each elongated frame member being rigidly united at one end to the structural framework of the one tunnel section on each side of and in spaced parallel relation to the reference plane and extending in the direction of the telescoping end of the one tunnel section with the external surfaces of each elongated frame member being in spaced and unattached relation to the one tunnel section along the length of the elongated frame member measured from a point contiguous to the end of the elongated frame member which is rigidly united to the structural framework to thereby result in a free standing portion of the elongated frame member relative to the one tunnel section, the length of the free standing portion of each of the elongated frame members being appreciably greater than the distance between the structural framework and the telescoping end of the one tunnel section,

(j) each elongated frame member having the free end of the free standing portion received within one of the hollow frame members with elements of the free standing portion in friction reducing mating relationship with said internal walls of the hollow frame members to accommodate movement of the elongated frame members Within the hollow frame members during telescoping movement of the tunnel sections, the strength of the elongated frame members and the structural framework being such and the spacing between the elongated frame members and the one tunnel section being such that the other tunnel section is supported by the mating portion of the hollow frame members and associated elongated frame members when the other tunnel section is in extended position.

4. In a conveyance loader the combination claimed in claim 3 in which the strength of the elongated frame members and the structural framework is such and the spacing between the elongated frame members and the one tunnel section is such that the weight of the other tunnel section is supported solely by the mating portions of the hollow frame members and associated elongated frame members during telescoping movement of the tunnel sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,898,679 2/1933 Millee 14--71 XR 3,099,847 8/1963 Lodjic et al. 14-71 3,110,048 11/1963 Bolton 1471 3,263,253 8/1966 Wollard et al. 14-71 3,184,772 5/1965 Moore et a1 1471 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

